The school holidays are coming! Ready to go to Pulau Tioman, Perhentian Islands, or Mabul Island? Over-exposure under the sun can be hazardous to our skin! Prolonged sun exposure could cause mild conditions like sunburn, freckles formed on your face, aging signs (you might look older as your skin changes are accelerated upon exposure to ultraviolet light, UV). In serious cases, prolonged sun exposure could also lead to skin cancer.
Perhaps you’ve always heard about what others say that whenever you are planning to go to the beach, or a part-time work under the sun, “Put on sunblock yea!”. You might be wondering, sunscreen is only to apply on our skin, right? Other than “blocking the sun”, what else can I do with it?
Well, before understanding sunscreen, let’s understand better about our enemy, ultraviolet (UV) radiation!
There are 3 types of UV radiation. The UV radiations closest to us are UVA and UVB.
UVA (320-400nm):
UVA penetrates deeper into our skin than UVB, and is responsible for most phototoxic reactions to our medications. It is rarely absorbed by the ozone layer, and can pass through glass. Besides, it causes around 15% of erythema due to sunlight.
UVB (290-320nm):
UVB is the primary cause of sunburns. It can be significantly absorbed by the ozone layer, and does not penetrate glass. It is 1000 times more harmful than UVA in causing erythema!
UVC (200-290 nm):
UVC is usually filtered by the ozone layer, and does not reach the earth.
So what should I know about sunblock (sunscreen) to protect myself from the harmful UV light?
It is important to apply sunscreen sufficiently 15-30 minutes before going outside, and reapply at least every 2 hours, especially when you’re going to swim or sweat excessively. Do use sunscreens of SPF 30(sun protection factor) and above!
How much to apply? Well, you may bear this in mind: approximately a teaspoon per body part or area. You may use 1 teaspoon of sunscreen each for your face, head, neck, arm, leg, chest and abdomen, as well as your back and the back of your neck. You may focus on the BEENS area: Back of your knees, Ears, Eye area (not near or in the eye!), Neck, and Scalp.
Here are some interesting facts for you. Sunscreens that are labelled “broad spectrum”, can protect your skin against UVA and UVB rays. However, it is important to know that NO sunscreen blocks 100% of UVB rays, and super-high SPFs DO NOT GUARANTEE much more sun protection than SPFs of 30-50.
For your reference, do take a look here:
- SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays
- SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays
- SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays
- SPF 100 blocks 99% of UVB rays
So do consider your sunscreen choices when you’re buying them!
Wherever you go, you may also check the UV index at your destination, then you will know what to prepare for your trip. While sunscreen is only one of the ways for sun protection, other measures should be taken into considerations. These are also what you can do for sun protection, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO)!
0-2 (Low):
Only minimal sun protection required for normal activities. You may wear sunglasses on bright days. If you’re outside for more than 1 hour, wear some cover-up clothes (long sleeve shirts etc.) and use sunscreen. At places with winter weathers, the reflection of snow may nearly double the usual UV strength. Do wear sunglasses and apply sunscreen!
3-5 (Moderate):
You might need to wear sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, as well as cover up if you’re expected to be outside for more than 30 minutes. Do go under shades whenever possible, especially in the afternoon when the sun is strongest!
6-7 (High):
At this stage, sun protection is very necessary, because the UV rays may damage our skin and could cause sunburn. As usual, seek for shady places whenever possible, use an umbrella, cover up, wear a hat, sunglasses, as well as put on sunscreen. Try to avoid going out between 11am-4pm!
8-10 (Very High):
Like what you could do for UV index 6-7, take extra precautions this time. Unprotected skin can be easily damaged and could get sunburn quickly!
11 or more (Extreme):
This is common in the tropical locations. By the way, white sand and other bright surfaces may reflect UV and increase UV exposure to your skin. Do take full precautions for your sun protection!
You may laugh at those Face-kinis at the China beaches, or neon-coloured, anti-UV jackets worn by Chinese tourists. With all these information, now you know how important it is to protect ourselves under the sun!
In case you’ve already got pigmentations on your face and you know it’s due to over-exposure under the sun, you may contact one of these reliable clinics on ERUFU Care by sending your enquiry to your preferred clinic. The clinic will respond to you within 3 working days! Juliet will guide you through your healthcare journey, so expect an SMS text from us once you’ve sent your enquiry, as well as a phone call around a month later to see how’s everything goes with you. Don’t worry your pretty little mind about any extra charges!
Juliet's Reminder: Although it's essential to get prepared with sun protection measures, it's not necessary to stress yourself out on constantly bear in mind to keep UV radiation out of your skin, but not enjoying your trip!
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